Virtual influencers that earn their creators thousands of pounds per Instagram post

A recent study has named the virtual and AI influencers that have the potential to earn the most money on Instagram from a single post. AI and virtual influencers are digital personas created through artificial intelligence or computer software. Like traditional influencers, these virtual figures have also gained immense popularity on platforms like Instagram, leading to significant earnings for their creators.

In this study, intelligent enterprise solutions provider SAP delved into the earnings potential of the top 60 ‘human replica’ AI influencers—those designed to resemble humans as opposed to animal or cartoon-based characters. By analysing their follower numbers and utilising an Instagram earnings calculator, the study estimated potential earnings for each sponsored post, shedding light on the financially rewarding realm of virtual influencer marketing.

The results show that Lu do Magalu is the AI influencer with the highest earning potential from a sponsored Instagram post at around £26,700, around the same amount as the median down payment for a house in America.

@magazineluiza, who has been featured on the cover of Vogue Brazil, was created as part of a promotion for iBlogTV by Magazine Luize in 2009 and has posted to Instagram 45 times in the past 30 days, meaning that if monetized, her creators could have made up to £1.2 million in a single month.

Miquela Sousa ranks second among AI influencers with the highest earning potential on Instagram, with it being estimated that she could earn up to £12,900 per Instagram post. This amount would take the median-paid UK resident worker a little over a year to earn.

@lilmiquela’s creators, Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou, don’t have to rely on sponsored posts to’make a living’ because their creation, Lil Miquela, has been a steady workhorse for their company Brud, with collaborations with a range of brands, such as BMW and Samsung, plus an ad for Calvin Klein, which sees the digital influencer share a kiss with Bella Hadid.

Leya Love comes in third and could earn an estimated £3,900 per sponsored Instagram post. A creation of  Cosmiq Universe AG, @leyalovenature blends digital modelling with environmental advocacy into her posts. She’s even a co-author in the bestseller ‘Life Values: When Dreams Become True,’ alongside fellow Cosmiq avatar Aya Stellar. Layla’s page has posted two times in the past month, and had they been sponsored posts, she could have earned more than £7,800 for her creators. 

@iamxalara places fourth and could earn up to £3,600 per sponsored Instagram post. The profile posted 11 pictures last year. If monetised, 

Alara X’s creators could have generated up to £39,600 from November 2022–2023. IAMX Digital Human created @iamxalara as the first of many human-like digital avatars with the aim of being one of the first companies to bring human-like avatars into the metaverse via a ‘new era of interactive storytelling through virtual and mixed reality experiences.’

Thalasya Pov ranks fifth in earning potential, with the ability to command £3,300 for each sponsored post on Instagram. Known as 

@thalasya_ on the platform, she identifies herself as the first Indonesian digital human character. Having last posted officially 44 months ago, if her creators had maintained a schedule of one sponsored post per month since then, they could have amassed up to £145,200. Remarkably, this sum equates to an average Indonesian worker’s earnings in approximately 18 years.

‘noonoouri’ is in sixth place and could earn up to £3,200 per sponsored Instagram post. She is recognised for her chic style and advocacy for veganism and sustainability, and she has attracted more than 436,000 followers to her page, @noonoouri. ‘noonoouri,’ created in 2018 as a Metaverse avatar, has already been involved in lucrative endorsement deals with the likes of Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga and was recently signed by Warner Music, with her debut single Dominoes already receiving more than 800,000 Spotify plays.

‘imma’ ranks seventh and garners potential earnings of £3,000 per sponsored Instagram post. @imma.gram’s 391,000 followers are treated to a blend of contemporary fashion and art, making Imma stand out among digital influencers. She has worked with brands such as Porsche Japan, Ikea, and Puma.

Alexis Ivyedge takes the eighth spot and could earn up to £2,600 per sponsored post. The self-proclaimed ‘bombshell, model, and social media starlet’ has more than 334,000 followers on her account, 

@alexisivyedge.

Aitana Lopez is ninth. The pink-haired influencer has taken the internet by storm in recent months through her account @fit_aitana, gaining more than 290,000 followers and the potential to earn more than £2,400 for a single post.

Shudu rounds off tenth place. The self-proclaimed ‘world’s first digital supermodel’ at @shudu.gram has amassed more than 240,000 followers, allowing her creator to charge up to £2,000 per sponsored post—that’s not far off the average UK wage of £2,913.